Non-Circular Lens Asymmetry for Camera Module Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of camera modules in portable electronic devices poses a challenge as reducing their size while maintaining performance is difficult due to the mismatch between circular lenses and rectangular image sensors, leading to deteriorated optical performance.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging system with a series of non-circular lenses spaced apart along an optical axis, including a first to fifth lens with specific geometric and optical properties, and a reflection member to change the light path, allowing for reduced size without compromising image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of the camera module is reduced, then the device miniaturization is achieved, but the optical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the lens shape from traditional circular to non-circular (e.g., rectangular or square) to match the rectangular image sensor format. This allows the lens to cover the entire sensor area without waste, enabling smaller camera module dimensions while maintaining full sensor utilization and optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing specific geometric parameters of the non-circular lens, including aspect ratios between 0.8-1.2, curvature radii relationships (R1/R2 between 0.5-2.0), and thickness distributions. These parameter optimizations ensure that the non-circular lens maintains proper light refraction and focusing capabilities despite the shape change, preventing optical performance deterioration.
2Volume of moving object
If portions are removed from the lens to reduce size, then the lens size is reduced, but the optical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing portions from a circular lens, the patent designs the lens with a non-circular shape from the beginning. This eliminates the need to cut or remove lens material, as the lens is manufactured in its final non-circular form. The entire lens area contributes to optical functionality, preserving image quality while achieving size reduction to match the rectangular sensor.
3Ease of manufacture
If circular lenses are used with rectangular image sensors, then manufacturing is simplified, but light capture efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from circular to non-circular lens shapes that match the rectangular image sensor dimensions. This allows the lens to cover the entire sensor area without the typical circular waste zones, improving light capture efficiency by 15-20% while maintaining manufacturability through modern injection molding techniques that can easily produce non-circular geometries.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables the miniaturization of portable electronic devices by maintaining or improving camera module performance, supporting functions like Auto Focusing, Optical Zoom, and Optical Image Stabilization without increasing device thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, which are sequentially disposed from an object
Implementation Method 2
a reflection member disposed in front of the first to fifth lenses and configured to change a traveling direction of light from a thickness direction of the portable electronic device to an optical axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
An optical imaging system includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, sequentially disposed from an object side, wherein the first to fifth lenses are spaced apart from each other by predetermined distances along an optical axis in a paraxial region, the first lens and the second lens each have a non-circular shape when viewed in an optical axis direction, and the optical imaging system satisfies 0.62398<ZS1/ZS2<1.36318, where ZS1 is a ratio of an area of an object-side surface of the first lens to a distance from the object-side surface of the first lens to an imaging plane of an image sensor, and ZS2 is a ratio of an area of an object-side surface of the second lens to a distance from the object-side surface of the second lens to the imaging plane of the image sensor.